Man arrested after allegedly faking kidnapping in north Austin

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The man who was found with duct tape over his mouth and his hands tied in the trunk of a car in north Austin last month is now facing a criminal charge for allegedly faking the entire incident.

Austin police officers were called to the parking lot in front of the Toys “R” Us at the Tech Ridge shopping center in north Austin around 7 a.m. on Thursday, May 31 after muffled screams were heard from the trunk of the car.

Photos sent to KXAN by one of the men who found 37-year-old Robert Anthony Gomez show him face up in the trunk with duct tape covering most of his face.

Mac Newton says he took the photos of Gomez for evidence. After Austin police interviewed Gomez, APD says he admitted to faking the incident.

Gomez, who lives in Round Rock, has been charged with false alarm or report and booked into the Williamson County Jail, where he remains as of Thursday evening.

His bond has been set at $10,000.

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